Three sharp raps on Erina's door and already she wants to scream at the person to get out.
"Come in," she says instead. The heir to the Nakiri name must not act that undignified.
Hayama enters the spacious study room, a short nod his greeting. Erina feels the tension leave her body already. She wasn't sure how many more stupid requests she could handle arguing against this morning. Now, Hayama. Hayama would ask for something sensible.
"What is it, Hayama-san?"
Hayama opens his mouth, then closes it.
Oh no. A weight settles in Erina's stomach.
He sighs, looking to one side, runs his hand through his hair. The weight gets heavier. He opens his mouth, slams it shut, drops his hand, and sighs, again.
Erina is now positive that the weight has sunk lower than she ever had in the pursuit of Souma's expulsion two years ago.
"I'll save you the trouble. You're here on Alice's request, aren't you? Tell Alice I'm still against giving her the additional funds she asked for her "coke meets mint at an astronomical level" experiment. No, I don't care that it's for Science. No, I don't care how the findings can help the molecular gastronomy field. I'm not funding that colossal waste of resources."
A look of amusement flashes across Hayama's face. "No, i'm not here for that. I'm against that too, anyway."
"Takumi-kun, then? Tell him that i'm not approving for his Shokugeki against Souma either. Not until they change their decision to have melon soda and tabasco as the main ingredients. I don't even want to imagine what kind of dishes they plan on making. Also, please relay to Yukihira that having "my virginity" as a wager is not approved, regardless of what Takumi-kun has agreed to. Or has not."
Hayama blinks once.
"Uh. I had no idea - But I'm not here for that either."
"Okay, then you're here on behalf on Kurokiba and Ibusaki-kun? Tell them the ban on them setting foot in the grand auditorium still stands. Just because they were bored during an assembly and that they're part of the Elite Ten is not good reason to start smoking seafood backstage. The fact that there was a grill backstage for whatever godforsaken reason is not an excuse either. The curtains nearly caught on fire, for Tootsuki's sake!" Erina shakes her head, rubbing her forehead. "I don't care that Kurokiba was supposed to have a presentation on seafood preparation there next week he'd rather die than do. Like told him, reschedule or change a venue, but no cancelling of the presentation."
A wry snicker escapes Hayama.
"No, i'm not here for that either. But now that I think about it, Alice did ask me to put in a good word for her project -,"
"No." Erina answers immediately. "Not in a million years."
"I'll tell her that." Hayama places a file on Erina's desk. "I actually came to ask for an approval on these order of spices. It's for the seminar."
"Oh." Erina picks up the file, snapping it open, leisurely scanning the contents.. "I don't see why you were so nervous to -." The file snaps shut, Erina's neck snapping next as she flings her head up in horror.
"Hayama-san. I understand that the seminar deals with exclusive spices, and that Tootsuki has nearly unlimited funds but this -." Erina lets out a semi-strangled sound. Hayama respectfully does not say anything about how unladylike it is. "This is outrageous!"
"To be fair, it is a one of a kind spice that's been newly discovered in East Asia. I simply wish to be one of the first to obtain it and study its properties."
Erina stares at Hayama, speechless. Unable to find anything to say, actually. Even to her, someone who'd grown up never seeing a penny, the figure was stunning. And Hayama wanted all that cash for some measly plant? She understood, of course, the significance the spice could have in his and Shiomi Seminar's culinary pursuit. But still. All those zeroes. She had actually lost count.
"Also," Hayama looks down, seemingly embarrassed. "Jun's birthday is coming up."
Realisation dawns on Erina. Her face softens into a smile. "Well. I'll pull some strings then."
Hayama brightens up instantly. For someone as taciturn as him, it was quite a sight to see unbridled wonder on his face.
"Alright. Thanks. I'll tell the others what you said too." He gives another nod, then turns to leave. At the double doors, he turns around, a mischievous, knowing smile on his face. "I won't tell them my request was the only one to be approved, either."
Erina flashes him a grin. "Thanks."
A/N: all hayama jun interactions in this series is familial
